A 17-year-old girl with a family history of sudden death and episodes of chest pain during exercise is likely diagnosed with which condition?

The diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is highly consistent with the symptoms presented: a family history of sudden death and episodes of chest pain during exercise. HCM is a genetic heart condition characterized by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, which can lead to obstructed blood flow and electrical disturbances. It is notably significant among young athletes because it can cause syncope, arrhythmias, and even sudden cardiac death, particularly during physical exertion.

The family history of sudden death adds another layer of concern, as HCM often has an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. This means that it can run in families, increasing the likelihood that a young individual with chest pain, especially when triggered by exercise, might have this condition. Therefore, given the combination of genetic predisposition, symptomatology, and the age of the patient, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy presents as the most appropriate diagnosis in this scenario.

In contrast, while ventricular tachycardia can occur in young patients, it is generally a consequence of other structural heart diseases and would typically result in pronounced symptoms rather than just chest pain. Congenital heart defects encompass a variety of structural abnormalities and would not specifically align with the description of exercise-induced symptoms and a family history of